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Growing number of border walls around the world

The number of border walls has been increasing around the world, and the number being built is accelerating.[1][2][3] By 2017, over 60 (and according to some sources, nearly or over 70) border walls existed around the world.[1][2][3][4][5][6] None of the barriers currently in operation existed before 1945, and their number slowly grew until the September 11, 2001 attacks, after which the rate of wall building greatly accelerated.[2][3][7]

Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is 5,500 miles (8,850 km) long.[8] The first parts of the wall were constructed in the 600s B.C., but Emperor Qin Shi Huang is remembered for his role in building and expanding the wall.[8] The wall was repaired and expanded through the Ming Dynasty in the late Middle Ages and Early Modern Period.[8] The purpose of the wall was to protect China from the Mongolians in the north.[8]

Roman limes

A limes, pronounced lee-mez, from which we get modern Englishlimits, were barrier walls delineating the limits of the Roman Empire. On the outside of the limes were the barbarian hordes who wanted access to the more affluent civilization to either plunder its wealth or learn their technology, but refused to submit to Roman law or adopt Romanized customs.

Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall is in the north of England, running 73 miles (118 km) from coast-to-coast.[9] The wall was constructed after the Roman EmperorHadrian visited Britannica in 122 A.D., and construction lasted six years.[9] Historians debate the exact purpose of the wall,[10] but it was probably intended to separate the Romans from the barbarians[10] and to defend Britain's northern border from the latter.[9] Historians debate the effectiveness of the wall,[10] but it often viewed as being a tactical success and the most effective Roman barrier in Britain.[11]

Israeli walls

Israel's West Bank barrier

Israel has built several effective border barriers along its borders.[12]

In January 2013, Israel completed most of its fence along its border with Egypt.[13] The Israeli government reported later that year that illegal immigration into Israel had dropped by over 99.9%.[14][15] The Israeli government reported in September 2017 that zero people had entered the country illegally from Egypt in the past 12 months.[16]

In addition, Israel's fence along the West Bank has also been effective, greatly lowering suicide and other terrorist attacks.[17][18]

Hungary

Hungary's border fence with Serbia

Hungary was overrun in 2015 by refugees passing through the country. In response, conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orbán built a border barrier along the border with Serbia[20] and Croatia.[21] The fence was so effective that illegal immigration levels dropped to levels seen before the crisis began,[22] and by September 2017, illegal immigration levels had dropped by 99% since 2015.[23] In April 2017, the Hungarian government completed construction of a second border fence, one with high-tech features, on the Serbian border.[24] Unlike most other European countries, Hungary's leadership has taken a more conservative right-wing, common sense approach to the immigration crisis.[25]

As Orbán himself noted, Hungary's policies likely saved all of Europe from an even greater and more catastrophic migrant crisis.[26] Liberals and globalists, on the other hand, attacked Hungary for its actions.[27]

Donald Trump, who was elected U.S. President in 2016, promised to complete and build a wall along the United States–Mexico border in order to halt the flow of illegal immigration and slow the illegal import of drugs, firearms, and other materials. In 2016, the Republican Party Platform began calling for construction of the Border Wall.